JP2011218672A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The power storage capacity of a UPS makes it difficult to replace the power consumption of an MFP. Therefore, there is a problem that print job data in progress is deleted when the power is cut off.
When a power failure occurs, the print job data in progress is saved in the save nonvolatile memory 16 using the power stored in the UPS 40, and the saved data is read when the power failure is restored. Continue the job. For this reason, data of a print job in progress is not lost due to a power failure.
Each time the power is turned on, the save nonvolatile memory 16 is referred to. If there is data here, the saved data is imaged first, and after this is completed, normal job processing is performed. For this reason, it is possible to print in the order of jobs that should have been executed if there was no power failure.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an information communication function.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having an information processing function is connected to a commercial power supply via an uninterruptible power supply (hereinafter referred to as “UPS”). Safety measures are taken so that necessary information can be backed up even when the power supply is stopped.

  A technique related to UPS in such an image forming apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below.

JP 2009-194754 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, since the power consumption of the heater of the fixing device that fixes the image-formed toner to the printing medium is large, it is difficult to replace the power consumption of the fixing device with the storage capacity of the UPS. It was rarely used in connection with. In such an image forming apparatus, in-process data, which is job data that is being executed, that is, in-process, is stored in a volatile memory. Therefore, when a power interruption such as a power failure occurs, the in-process data is deleted. There was a problem of ending up.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that is operated by electric power output from a UPS, edits and develops input job data, and executes a job to be output to the outside. Non-volatile storage means for storing in-process data during job execution, shutdown means for storing the in-process data in the non-volatile storage means and performing shutdown processing for stopping the job execution, and the power failure detection signal received Sometimes, the UPS is inquired about the remaining amount of electricity stored in the UPS, and the remaining amount of electricity stored is received, and it is determined whether to operate the shutdown unit based on the remaining amount of electricity stored or to continue execution of the job. When the stored power remaining amount determining means and the power recovery signal are received, the in-process data is stored in the nonvolatile storage means. To determine dolphin not, the widget data when it is stored, and a initializing means for causing the job to read out and execute it.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention has the following effects (1) to (4).
(1) When a power failure occurs, the in-process data is saved to the nonvolatile storage means using the power stored in the UPS, and when the power failure is restored, the saved data is read and the job is continued. it can. For this reason, the in-process data is not lost due to a power failure, and convenience is improved.

  (2) Every time the image forming apparatus is turned on, the save non-volatile storage means is always referred to. If there is job data here, the job execution of the saved job data is performed first, Since normal job processing is performed after this is completed, the job order can be maintained even if a power failure occurs.

  (3) After the power failure occurs, the remaining amount of power stored in the UPS is periodically monitored and the job is continued as much as possible, so that the stored power can be used without waste.

  (4) The image forming apparatus periodically monitors the output of the UPS and considers the power consumption of the other apparatus connected to the UPS, thereby causing trouble in the shutdown process of the other apparatus in the event of a power failure. In addition, the job can be continued by making maximum use of the power remaining in the UPS.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the UPS in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing Example 1 of the UPS correspondence table in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating Example 2 of the UPS correspondence table in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing power failure detection processing of the MFP of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the MFP of FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the initialization process in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the saved data check process in the initialization process of FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the saved data expansion process in the initialization process of FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the data reception process in FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the data editing process in FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the data expansion process in FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the print control process in FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the data transfer process in FIG. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the PU control process in FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the power failure process in FIG. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the data saving process in the power failure process in FIG. FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the MFP according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the UPS correspondence table in FIG. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a power failure process according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Modes for carrying out the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in light of the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are only for explanation and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

(Configuration of MFP of Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus (for example, a multifunction peripheral device (hereinafter referred to as “MFP”)) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  An MFP 10 serving as an image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment includes a control unit 11 that controls the entire apparatus.

  The control unit 11 is configured to process a plurality of types of jobs in parallel. The job includes, for example, a PCToPrint job that prints job data (for example, print job data) received from a personal computer (hereinafter “PC”) 1 on a print medium, and print job data that is read from a scanner on the print medium. ScanToPrint job, FaxToPrint job that prints print job data received from a facsimile machine on a print medium, ScanToFax job that sends job data read from a scanner to a facsimile machine, ScanToServer that sends job data read from a scanner to an external server ScanToeMail job for sending job data read from the job and scanner by E-Mail, ScanToPC for sending job data read from the scanner to the PC1, LocalPrint job for printing data held in the MFP 10 on the print medium, from PC1 Recieved There are PCToFax job like to send over data to the facsimile apparatus. In the first embodiment, a PCToPrint job will be described below as an example.

  The control unit 11 edits and develops job data (for example, print job data) given from the outside, controls the image forming module 30 to perform job execution (for example, image forming operation), and print media (for example, Image forming control means (not shown) for forming an image on the printing paper) and in-process data during the image forming operation are saved in the saving nonvolatile storage means (for example, saving nonvolatile memory) 16 and the image forming module 30 A shutdown unit (not shown) for stopping the operation, and a remaining storage level determination unit (not shown) that inquires the UPS 40 about the remaining amount of storage and determines whether to operate the shutdown unit based on the remaining amount of storage or to continue the image forming operation. And have.

  Further, the control unit 11 compares the maximum output power of the UPS 40 with the power consumption of the job being executed. When the maximum output power exceeds the power consumption, the job execution is continued, and the maximum output power is When the power consumption is less than the power consumption, a power comparison unit (not shown) for stopping job execution is compared with the remaining power amount and the power amount necessary for job execution, and the remaining power amount exceeds the power amount necessary for job execution. The job execution is continued, and when the remaining power is less than the amount of power required for the job execution, the job continuation stop means for stopping the job execution and the work-in-progress data are stored in the evacuation nonvolatile memory 16 when the power is restored An initialization unit (not shown) for reading the data and executing the image forming operation when the in-process data is stored. And a power failure flag 11a which indicates a power failure condition.

  The control unit 11 includes a communication unit 13 that communicates with an external PC 1 or UPS 40 that is a host device, a data analysis unit 14 that analyzes print job data, a save control unit 15 that saves print job data, and a print. An image data buffer 19 for storing an image and an image forming module 30 for executing image formation are connected.

  A reception data buffer 17 is connected to the communication unit 13. The communication unit 13 has a function of receiving print job data from the PC 1 and storing the received print job data as it is in the received data buffer 17 as received data. The received data has a structure described in a page description language such as Postscript. Further, the communication unit 13 receives a power failure detection signal or a power recovery signal from the UPS 40 via the communication line 40b when a power failure occurs in the UPS 40, or notifies the control unit 11 of the power failure detection signal or the power recovery signal. When there is an inquiry about the remaining amount of electricity stored in the UPS 40, it has a function of communicating with the UPS 40 via the communication lines 40 b and 13 a, receiving the remaining amount of electricity stored in the UPS 40, and notifying the controller 11. .

  A data analysis unit 14 is further connected to the communication unit 13. The data analysis unit 14 includes an editing unit 14a and a development unit 14b, and a reception data buffer 17, an intermediate data buffer 18, and an image data buffer 19 are connected. The reception data buffer 17 stores received print job data, that is, reception data, and the intermediate data buffer 18 has a function of storing one or a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing the print job data.

  The editing unit 14 a has a function of reading the received data stored in the received data buffer 17, converting it into intermediate data, and storing it in the intermediate data buffer 18. The intermediate data is obtained by dividing received data in units of one page, further grouping the page into several blocks, and storing them again. Furthermore, the editing unit 14a has a function of extracting management information in which information such as the designated number of copies is recorded when the page is printed.

  The editing unit 14a is configured to notify the development unit 14b of the start address of the first block of the intermediate data buffer 18 storing the intermediate data of this page every time conversion to the intermediate data is completed for one page. ing.

  When the development unit 14b is notified of the start address of the head block from the editing unit 14a, the development unit 14b accesses the intermediate data buffer 18 to sequentially read out data from the head block, convert it into print image data, and store it in the image data buffer 19. It has a function to do. The print image data is bitmap data in which color information of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) is designated for each dot of a page to be printed. When the conversion for one page is completed, the expansion unit 14 b is configured to notify the control unit 11 of the start address of the page data stored in the image data buffer 19.

  The save control unit 15 is connected to a save non-volatile memory 16, and the save control unit 15 has a function of saving print job data to the save non-volatile memory 16 according to an instruction from the control unit 11 and restoring it. is doing. That is, the save control unit 15 stores the data stored in the reception data buffer 17 and the intermediate data buffer 18 in the save nonvolatile memory 16 when receiving a save instruction from the control unit 11 during a power failure. When the expansion instruction is received from the control unit 11 when the power failure is restored, the save control unit 15 reads out the data stored in the save non-volatile memory 16 and develops it in the reception data buffer 17 and the intermediate data buffer 18. It has a function of notifying the controller 11 of the expanded address.

  The image forming module 30 includes a medium transport unit 31 that transports a print medium, an image forming unit 32 that forms an image, and a heat fixing unit 33 that fixes the formed image to the print medium with heat and pressure. ing. The medium transport unit 31 picks up the print medium from a paper tray (not shown) or a manual feed tray, adjusts the leading position with a resist roller (not shown), transports the print medium along a medium transport path (not shown), and printing is finished. It has a function of discharging images to a paper discharge tray.

  The image forming unit 32 has a function of forming an image with toner on a print medium. The heat fixing unit 33 has a function of fixing the toner by applying heat and pressure to a print medium on which an image is formed with toner.

  Further, the MFP 10 includes a power supply receiving unit 12 that is connected to the UPS 40 and distributes the power supplied from the UPS 40 to each unit of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the UPS 40 in FIG.
The UPS 40 is one of a rectifier 42 that rectifies power supplied from a commercial power source (not shown), a storage battery 44 that stores power supplied from a commercial power supply, power from the rectifier 42, or power from the storage battery 44. And a control unit 41 that controls the entire UPS 40 and communicates with the communication unit 13 via the communication lines 40b and 13a.

  When power is supplied from an external commercial power source, the UPS 40 stores the power in the storage battery 44 and outputs the power to the power supply line 40a as it is. When the supply of power from the commercial power supply is stopped, the UPS 40 Is output. At this time, the control unit 41 transmits a power failure detection signal to the communication unit 13, and when the power supply stop is restored, the control unit 41 stores the power supplied from the commercial power source and outputs the power from the commercial power source as it is. At this time, the control unit 41 transmits a power recovery signal to the communication unit 13.

3A and 3B are diagrams showing Example 1 of the UPS correspondence table in FIG.
FIG. 3A is a table showing basic information regarding the power consumption of the UPS 40 and the MFP 10. The maximum output power of the UPS 40 is 650 [W], the maximum possible output time of the UPS 40 is 60 [seconds], the power amount of the battery of the UPS 40 is 39,000 [J], the power amount necessary for shutting down the MFP 10 + α is 1, 500 [J].

Here, the electric energy (39,000 [J]) of the UPS 40 battery is
Energy consumption of livestock batteries (39,000 [J])
= Maximum output power (650 [W]) x Maximum output possible time (60 [seconds])
It is calculated as follows.

  The amount of power + α necessary for shutting down the MFP 10 is the amount of power α that is sufficient to save the in-process data during the image forming operation in the save nonvolatile memory 16 and stop the operation of the image forming module 30. Is referred to as the minimum required power amount. This minimum required power amount is a threshold value for the remaining power storage determining means to determine whether or not to execute shutdown. For example, since the minimum required power amount is 1500 [J] and the remaining power amount of USP40 is 1170 [J], that is, 3%, the remaining power amount interrupts the minimum required power amount. Is executed.

  FIG. 3B shows the amount of work that can be executed by each job for each storage battery remaining amount of the UPS 40.

  For example, in the case of a PCToPrint job, when the remaining amount of charge is 100% (= 39000 [J]), it indicates that 34 pages can be printed. When the remaining power amount is 90% (= 35100 [J]), it indicates that 30 pages can be printed. Similarly, when the remaining amount of electricity is 80% (31200 [J]), page 27, and when the remaining amount of electricity is 70% (27300 [J]), page 23, the remaining amount of electricity is 60% (23400 [J]). ) Indicates that 19 pages can be printed.

The number of printable pages is calculated as in the following equation (1).
Number of printable pages = (Remaining power storage-Minimum required power) / Power consumption per page (1)

For example, in the example in which the remaining amount of power storage is 100%, it is as follows.
Number of printable pages = (39000 [J] −1500 [J]) ÷ 1100 [J]
= 34.09 ≒ 34 pages

  Next, the relationship between the maximum output power of the UPS 40 and the power consumption of each job will be described. According to FIG. 3A, the maximum output power of the UPS 40 is 650 [W], and the power consumption of the PCtoPrint job is 550 [W]. Therefore, if the remaining power is sufficient, the PCtoPrint job is executed. Is possible. The power consumption of other jobs can be executed because it is within the range of the maximum output power 650 [W] of the UPS 40.

4A and 4B are diagrams showing Example 2 of the UPS correspondence table in FIG.
The configurations of FIGS. 4A and 4B are basically the same as those of FIGS. 3A and 3B. In FIG. 4A, the UPS maximum output power is 500 [W], which is different from FIG. In this case, since the power consumption of the PCtoPrint job is 550 [W], it is impossible to execute the PCtoPrint job. However, for example, the power consumption of the ScanToFax job is 350 [W], so the job can be executed.

(Operation of MFP in Embodiment 1)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a power failure detection process of the MFP 10 of FIG.

  This power failure detection process is executed by the control unit 11 in parallel with the overall operation of the MFP 10 shown in FIG. When the commercial power supply fails, the UPS 40 transmits a power failure detection signal to the communication unit 13 via the communication line 40b. The power failure detection signal is transferred to the control unit 11. In step S1, when receiving the power failure detection signal, the control unit 11 sets the power failure flag 11a held therein to true (hereinafter referred to as “TRUE”) in step S2.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the MFP 10 of FIG.
When the MFP 10 is turned on by starting business or recovering from a power failure, the process is started. In step S10, the control unit 11 executes initialization processing, expands in-process data in the save nonvolatile memory 16 and stores it in the reception data buffer 17 or the intermediate data buffer 18, and stores it in step S30. Proceed to the data editing process.

  If there is no in-process data in the evacuation nonvolatile memory 16, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S 20, the print job data received from the host device such as the PC 1 is received by the communication unit 13 and stored in the received data buffer 17. In step S30, the print job data is converted into intermediate data by the editing unit 14a and stored in the intermediate data buffer 18. In step S40, the intermediate data is converted into image data by the expansion unit 14b and stored in the image data buffer 19.

  In step 50, when one page of print image data is stored in the image data buffer 19, the control unit 11 controls the image forming module 30 to execute printing. The intermediate power failure flag 11a is checked and necessary processing is performed. This process will be described later.

  In step 71, the control unit 11 checks the power supply state, and if normal, the process proceeds to step S72, and in step S72, it is confirmed whether printing of the print job data has been completed. If printing has not ended (N), the process returns to step S30, and the subsequent data editing process is performed. When printing is finished (Y), this process is finished. In step S71, if the power state is abnormal, forcible termination is performed.

  Hereinafter, each process in FIG. 6 will be sequentially described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the initialization process in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the saved data check process in the initialization process of FIG.

  In step S11 of FIG. 7, the control unit 11 detects power-on, and requests the save control unit 15 to check for the presence of save data in step S12. In step S12-1 in FIG. 8, when the save control unit 15 receives the save data check instruction from the control unit 11, in step S12-2, the save non-volatile memory 16 is accessed to determine whether there is in-process data. In step S12-3 and S12-4, the result is retained and the present process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S13 in FIG.

  In step S13 in FIG. 7, if the response from the save control unit 15 is “no save data”, the present process is terminated as it is and the process proceeds to step S20 in FIG. If the response from the save control unit 15 is “with save data”, in step S14, the save control unit 15 is instructed to expand data, and a completion report from the save control unit 15 is waited for.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the saved data expansion process in the initialization process of FIG.

  In step 14 of FIG. 7, the data development instruction instructed by the control unit 11 is received, and this processing is started. In step S14-1 in FIG. 9, when the save control unit 15 receives a data expansion instruction from the control unit 11, in step S14-2, the save control unit 15 reads the intermediate data stored in the save non-volatile memory 16 and reads the intermediate data. The data buffer 18 is expanded. In step S14-3, the received data is developed in the received data buffer 17. In step S14-4, the save memory 16 is cleared, and in step S14-5, the control unit 11 is notified of the completion of expansion.

  In step S15 of FIG. 7, the deployment completion report is received. The completion report from the save control unit 15 is the start address of the reception data buffer 17 and the start address of the first block of the intermediate data buffer 18. When these are acquired in step S15 (Y), the control unit 11 instructs the expansion unit 14b to start the expansion process by passing the start address of the first block of the intermediate data buffer 18 to the expansion unit 14b. In step S17, the editing unit 14a In addition, the start address of the reception data buffer 17 is passed to instruct the activation of the editing process, and the process proceeds to the data editing process in step S30.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the data reception process in FIG.
In step S21 in FIG. 10, when the communication unit 13 receives the print job data, the communication unit 13 starts writing the print job data to the reception data buffer 17 in step 22. At this time, in step S23, the communication unit 13 notifies the editing unit 14a of the start address where the print job data in the reception data buffer 17 is written. In step S24, the communication unit 13 continues to write the received print job data as it is. In step S25, the communication unit 13 returns to step S24 when reception of the print job data is not completed (N). When reception of the print job data ends (Y), the communication unit 13 ends this process and proceeds to the data editing process in step S30.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the data editing process in FIG.
In step S31 of FIG. 11, upon receiving the start address, the editing unit 14a accesses the reception data buffer 17 based on this in step S32, and repeats the following processing until the print job data is completed. That is, one page is read and converted into intermediate data in step S33. In step S34, the data converted into the intermediate data is stored in the intermediate data buffer 18, and in step S35, the start address of the first block storing the data of this page is notified to the expansion unit 14b.

  If it is determined in step S36 that the print job data has been completed (Y), the process ends and the process proceeds to a data expansion process in step S40. If print job data remains (N), the process returns to step 32 and the job data for one page is read again.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the data expansion process in FIG.
In step S41 of FIG. 12, when the expansion unit 14b receives the start address of the first block from the editing unit 14a, in step S42, the expansion unit 14b accesses the intermediate data buffer 18 each time and reads intermediate data from the received block. In step S43, management information is extracted from the read intermediate data, and data other than the management information is converted into bitmap data. In step S45, the expansion unit 14b stores the bitmap data in the image data buffer 19. In step S46, when storing the image data for one page in step S46, the developing unit 14b notifies the control unit 11 of the start address of the head block of the image data and the management information extracted in step S43. Proceed to the print control process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the print control process of FIG.
In step S51 of FIG. 13, the control unit 11 receives the start address of the first block and management information from the expansion unit 14b. Subsequently, data transfer processing is executed in step S52, and PU control processing is executed in step S53. When the PU control process is executed, the power state is obtained as a return value, and the process returns to step S71 in FIG. Note that PU is an abbreviation for PrintUnit, and indicates the image forming module 30. Next, the data transfer process in step S52 and the PU control process in step S53 will be described.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the data transfer process in FIG.
In step S52-1, the control unit 11 accesses the image data buffer 19 and reads the print image data starting from the first block based on the start address and management information of the first block received by the expansion unit 14b. In step S52-2, the print image data is transferred to the image forming unit 32 in accordance with the management information, the process ends, and the process proceeds to the PU control process in step S53. Here, for example, when “2 copies” is specified in the management information, the same image data is transferred twice and the processing is terminated.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the PU control processing in FIG.
In step S53-1 in FIG. 15, the image forming unit of the control unit 11 controls the medium transport unit 31 to transport the print medium. In step S53-2, an image formed by toner is placed at an appropriate position on the print medium. The image forming unit 32 is controlled so as to be formed. In step S53-3, the thermal fixing unit 33 is controlled so that thermal fixing is performed at an appropriate timing and temperature on a printing medium on which an image is formed with toner.

  In step S53-4, the control unit 11 checks the state of the power failure flag 11a in the control unit 11, and when the value is not TRUE (N), that is, when the commercial power supply has not failed, the power state information is “ “Normal” is maintained and the process is terminated.

  If the power failure flag is TRUE in step S53-4 (Y), a power failure process is executed in step S53-6 (= step S60). In the power failure process, the power status of the UPS 40 is checked and a return value is returned. In step S53-7, the return value from the power failure process is held, the present process is terminated, and the process returns to step S71 in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the power failure process in FIG.
When the commercial power supply fails, the power failure detection process of FIG. 5 is activated and the power failure flag 11a becomes TRUE. As a result, during the process of the PU control process in FIG. 15, the power failure flag = TRUE in step S53-4, and this power failure process is executed.

  In step S61 of FIG. 16, the remaining power storage determining means of the control unit 11 inquires the UPS 40 via the communication unit 13 and the communication line 13a, and enters a wait state. When the remaining power amount is returned from the UPS 40 to the control unit 11 via the communication line 40b and the communication unit 13, the process leaves the wait state and proceeds to step S62. When this job is in a wait state, other jobs can be operated.

  In step S62, when the remaining power amount exceeds the minimum required power amount (NO), the process proceeds to step S63. In step S63, the power comparison unit compares the maximum output power of the UPS 40 with the power consumption of the currently executing job. If the maximum output power of the UPS 40 is less than the power consumption of the currently executing job, the job cannot be executed. Therefore, the process returns to step S61. When the maximum output power of the UPS 40 exceeds the power consumption of the job currently being executed, the process proceeds to step S64. In step S64, the job continuation stop unit compares the remaining power amount with the amount of power necessary for job execution. If the remaining power amount is less than the amount of power necessary for job execution, the process returns to step S61. In step S64, when the remaining amount of power exceeds the amount of power necessary for execution of the job, the power supply state = normal is maintained and this process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S53-7.

  In step S63 or S64, when the process returns to step S61, the process enters a loop state. However, before inquiring the remaining power storage amount to the UPS 40, time monitoring is performed for a certain period of time to enter a wait state. When this process is in a wait state, another job can be executed, for example, having power consumption of a job that is less than the maximum output power of the UPS 40 and having an amount of power required for job execution that is less than the remaining power storage amount. Other jobs are executed during this processing loop. As a result, the remaining amount of power storage sequentially decreases, and eventually the shutdown process is executed in any of the jobs being operated.

  In step S62, when the remaining power amount is less than the minimum required power amount (YES), the process proceeds to step S66.

  In step S66, the shutdown unit of the control unit 11 instructs the save control unit 15 to save data. Further, in step S67, the shutdown unit controls the thermal fixing unit 33 to turn off the heater of the fixing unit. In step S68, the shutdown unit controls the medium conveyance unit 31 to stop paper feeding. In step S69, image formation is performed. The image forming process is stopped by controlling the unit 32.

  Further, a shutdown unit (not shown) in the control unit 11 controls the medium transport unit 31 to forcibly discharge the print medium remaining in the transport path in step S70. In step S71, as power supply state information, power supply state = forced termination is held, the present process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S53-7.

  As described above, the minimum required power amount is a power amount obtained by adding a surplus power amount α to a power amount required to stop the operation of the image forming module 30. More specifically, the MFP 10 The necessary job data is saved in the save non-volatile memory 16, and a certain margin is set for the power required to safely shut down the MFP 10.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the data saving process in the power failure process in FIG.

  In step S66 in FIG. 16, the shutdown unit instructs the save control unit 15 to save data. As a result, this processing is started.

  In step S66-1 of FIG. 17, the save control unit 15 saves the data stored in the reception data buffer 17 to the save nonvolatile memory 16, and in step S66-2, the save control unit 15 stores the data in the intermediate data buffer 18. The saved data is saved in the save nonvolatile memory 16. When the evacuation is completed, in step S66-3, the controller 11 is notified of the completion of the evacuation. Since the data stored in the image data buffer 19 can be created if there is intermediate data, no saving process is performed.

(Effect of Example 1)
The MFP 10 according to the first embodiment has the following effects (1) to (3).

  (1) When a power failure occurs, the power stored in the UPS 40 is used to save the print job in progress to the save nonvolatile memory 16, and when the power failure is restored, the saved data is read and the job is read Can continue. For this reason, convenience is improved without losing data of a print job in progress due to a power failure.

  (2) Each time the MFP 10 is turned on, the save nonvolatile memory 16 is always referred to. If there is data, the saved data is imaged first, and after this is finished, Therefore, it is possible to print in the order of the jobs that should have been executed if there was no power failure.

  (3) Since the remaining amount of electricity stored in the UPS 40 is periodically monitored after the occurrence of a power failure and the job is continued as much as possible, the stored power can be used without waste.

(Configuration of MFP of Embodiment 2)
FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the MFP according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to those in FIG. 1 illustrating the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals.

  The configuration of the MFP 10A in the second embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the MFP 10 in FIG. 1 described in the first embodiment.

  The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points. That is, the control unit 11A of the second embodiment is configured by adding a power consumption history 11b and a power calculation unit 11c to the control unit 11 of the first embodiment. A first other device (for example, a server) 2 and a second other device (for example, a printer / MFP) 3 are connected to the power supply line 40 a in the second embodiment in parallel with the power supply receiving unit 12. Yes.

  The control unit 11A includes a power failure flag 11a, a power consumption history 11b, and a power calculation unit 11c. The function of the power failure flag 11a is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the power consumption history 11b, a predicted value of the total power consumption of devices such as the server 2 and the printer / MFP 3 other than the MFP 10 connected to the UPS 40 is recorded. The power calculation unit 11c has a function of estimating and calculating the power consumption of other devices from the change in the remaining amount of electricity stored per UPS 40 elapsed time during a power failure.

  FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams showing examples of the UPS correspondence table in FIG.

  FIG. 19A is a table showing basic information regarding the power consumption of the UPS 40 and the MFP 10A. 3A of the first embodiment, the maximum output power of the UPS 40 is 650 [W], the maximum possible output time of the UPS 40 is 60 [seconds], and the power amount of the UPS 40 battery is 39,000 [J]. This indicates that the amount of power + α necessary for shutting down the MFP 10A is 1,500 [J].

  FIG. 19B shows an elapsed time (= UPS operating time) from the start of power supply from the storage battery 44 of the UPS 40 due to the occurrence of a power failure to the UPS correspondence table 20 of the first embodiment, and other devices. An item of power consumption has been added.

  Furthermore, in FIG. 19B, the power consumption for each job, the operation time per page, and the power consumption per page are recorded. Based on the power consumption of the apparatus, the number of executable pages for each job is calculated and recorded.

Next, a method for acquiring each item in FIG. 19B will be described.
When a power failure occurs, the control unit 11A periodically inquires the UPS 40 about the remaining amount of electricity stored (for example, every 10 seconds), and obtains the remaining operation time, remaining amount [%], and remaining amount [J] of UPS. Record in the column. The power calculation unit 11c predicts various power consumptions of other devices based on the elapsed time [sec] and the remaining power storage amount [J] and writes them in the consumption time column of the other devices in FIG. It is sequentially updated and recorded in the power consumption history 11b of 11A.

The power consumption of other devices is obtained as follows.
As shown in the following formula (2), from the first remaining power (for example, 23400 [J]) at the first time (for example, the operation time 40 [sec] by the UPS 40) to the second time (for example, Subtract the second remaining power storage amount (for example, 21450 [J]) in the operating time 50 [sec]) and divide by the elapsed time (for example, 10 [second]) from the first time point to the second time point. Thus, the predicted value of the power consumption of the other device is obtained.
Other device power consumption = remaining power storage (operation time 40 [sec]) (23400 [J]) − remaining power storage (operation time 50 [sec]) (21450 [J]) / 10 [second]
= 1950 [J] / 10 [seconds] = 195 [W] (2)

  Next, a method for calculating the number of job executable pages in FIG. 19B will be described.

  For example, when a power failure occurs when the UPS battery capacity in FIGS. 19A and 19B is 100%, the remaining power 39000 [J] is calculated from the minimum required power 1500 [J]. Since there are many, the save control part 15 does not need to save data immediately. When the second monitor result is acquired, the estimated power consumption value of the other apparatus is 390 [W], and if the MFP 10A is executing the PCtoPrint job, the power consumption 550 (W) of the PCtoPrint job is added to this. Since the maximum output of the UPS 40 is 650 [W], the MFP 10A does not execute the PCtoPrint job. The controller 11A spends several cycles as it is, monitoring changes in the remaining amount of storage of the UPS 40 at predetermined time intervals.

  When other devices that have detected a power failure eventually shut down, the power consumption of the other devices decreases. In the operation time 120 [sec] by the UPS 40 in FIG. 19B, the power consumption of other devices is 78 [W]. Since the power consumption of the PCtoPrint job is 550 [W], in this state, 9 pages can be printed from the following equation (3) with the remaining amount of electricity stored in the UPS 40.

When the power of the UPS 40 is consumed by continuing the PCtoPrint job, the remaining power amount becomes 1950 [J] when the remaining 5%, and the shutdown process is executed with a minimum value that can secure 1500 [J] necessary for safe shutdown.
Number of pages that can be executed = (Remaining power storage-Minimum required power)
÷ {(Power consumption of other devices + Power consumption of this job)
× This job's operating time per page)} (3)

(Operation of MFP in Embodiment 1)
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a power failure process of the MFP 10A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to those in FIG. 16 illustrating the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals.

  The operation of the MFP 10A in the second embodiment is substantially the same as the operation of the MFP 10 in the first embodiment, and the process in the power failure process in FIG. 20 is partially different from the operation in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Other operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the operation of the flowchart of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 20, steps S81 to S83 are added between steps S62 and S63 of FIG. The other steps S61, S62 and S63 to S71 are the same as in the first embodiment.

  When a power failure occurs during the PU control process of FIG. 15 described above, the power failure process shown in FIG. 20 is executed.

  When a power failure occurs, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, in step S61 in FIG. 20, the control unit 11A inquires the UPS 40 about the remaining amount of power at predetermined intervals while the job is being executed. In step S62, the control unit 11A refers to the UPS correspondence table 20A and determines whether or not the remaining power storage amount is greater than the minimum required power amount. When the remaining power storage amount exceeds the minimum required power amount, the process proceeds to step S81 different from that in the first embodiment. In step S81, the UPS correspondence table 20A is referred to, and in step S82, the UPS 40 is connected in parallel to the MFP 10A. A predicted value of the power consumption of the other device is calculated, and in step S83, the required power of the job currently being executed by the MFP 10A is added to the power consumption of the other device to calculate a predicted value of the total power consumption, Stored in the power consumption history 11b.

  In step S63, as in the first embodiment, the maximum output power of the UPS 40 is compared with the power consumption of the currently executing job. If the maximum output power exceeds the power consumption of the currently executing job, step S64 is performed. If the maximum output power is less than the power consumption of the job, the process returns to step S61 to suspend the job execution. Thereafter, Steps S64 to S71 are executed as in the first embodiment.

(Effect of Example 2)
The MFP 10A according to the second embodiment has the following effects in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.

  The control unit 11A periodically monitors the remaining amount of power stored in the UPS 40 and considers the power consumption of the other devices connected in parallel with the MFP 10A, thereby hindering the shutdown processing of the other devices during a power failure. In addition, the job can be continued by making maximum use of the power remaining in the UPS 40.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various usage forms and modifications are possible. For example, the following forms (a) to (d) are used as the usage form and the modified examples.

  (A) In the first and second embodiments, the MFPs 10 and 10A have been described as examples of the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be used for a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and the like.

  (B) In the first and second embodiments, it has been described that the UPS 40 is externally attached to the MFPs 10 and 10A. However, the UPS 40 may be incorporated in the MFPs 10 and 10A.

  (C) In the first and second embodiments, the PCToPrint job has been described as an example of a job. However, other jobs such as a ScanToPrint job and a FaxToPrint job may be used.

  (D) The UPS 40 described in the first and second embodiments is an example of an uninterruptible power supply and does not necessarily have this configuration.

10,10A MFP
11, 11A Control unit 11a Power failure flag 13 Communication unit 15 Retraction control unit 20, 20A UPS correspondence table 30 Image forming module 40 UPS

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus that operates by power output from an uninterruptible power supply,
Job execution means for editing and expanding input job data and executing a job to be output to the outside,
Non-volatile storage means for storing in-process data during execution of the job;
Shutdown means for storing the in-process data in the nonvolatile storage means and performing a shutdown process for stopping the job execution;
When the power failure detection signal is received, the uninterruptible power supply device is inquired about the remaining amount of electricity stored in the electric power, and the remaining amount of electricity stored is received, and the shutdown unit is operated based on the remaining amount of electricity stored, or A remaining power storage determining means for determining whether to continue the execution of the job;
When the power recovery signal is received, it is determined whether or not the in-process data is stored in the non-volatile storage means, and when the in-process data is stored, it is read to perform the job execution. And
An image forming apparatus comprising: The power storage remaining amount determining means includes
When the power failure detection signal is received, the uninterruptible power supply device is inquired about the remaining amount of electricity stored in the electric power, and the remaining amount of electricity stored is received, and the remaining amount of electricity stored is near the amount of power for operating the shutdown means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shutdown process is executed when the threshold value is less than or equal to a threshold value, and the job execution is continued when the remaining power storage amount exceeds the threshold value. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
The maximum output power of the uninterruptible power supply is compared with the power consumption of the job. When the maximum output power exceeds the power consumption, the job execution is continued, and the maximum output power is less than the power consumption. In this case, the image forming apparatus includes power comparison means for stopping the job execution. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
Comparing the remaining power amount with the amount of power required for job execution, and when the remaining power amount exceeds the amount of power required for job execution, the job execution is continued, and the remaining power amount is An image forming apparatus, comprising: a job continuation stop unit that stops the job execution when the amount of power required for the job execution is less than the amount of power. The power comparison means includes
Based on the amount of change in the remaining amount of electricity stored per hour, the power consumption of another device that is operated by the power output from the uninterruptible power supply device is predicted, and the power consumption required for job execution is added to this. When the total power consumption exceeds the maximum output power of the uninterruptible power supply, the job execution is stopped, and the total power consumption is the maximum output power of the uninterruptible power supply. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job execution is continued when the value is less than 5. 5. The prediction of the power consumption of the other device is as follows:
Subtracting the second remaining power level at a second time point after the first time point from the first remaining power level at the first time point after receiving the power failure detection signal 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the result is divided by an elapsed time from the first time point to the second time point to obtain a predicted value of power consumption of the other device. The job execution means includes:
An image forming mechanism that forms an image on a print medium based on the input job data;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming unit that controls the image forming mechanism unit based on the job data.

Images